Former Rays Goalies Playing in World Cup of Hockey

Sep 9, 2016

Three former South Carolina Stingrays goaltenders are starring on the international hockey stage. Braden Holtby, Philipp Grubauer, and Michal Neuvirth are all playing in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, an eight-team event from September 17-October 1 that will crown the international hockey champion.

Holtby is playing for Team Canada. The 2015-16 Vezina Trophy Winner tied an NHL record with 48 wins last season for the Stingrays' NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals. Holtby skated in 12 games for the Stingrays in 2009-10, going 7-2-3 with a 2.95 goals against average and .911 save percentage. He played in the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game.

Grubauer is playing for Team Europe. The netminder just finished his first full pro season with the Stingrays' NHL affiliate in Washington last year with an 8-9-1 record. Grubauer carried the load for the Stingrays in the 2010-11 season, playing 43 games with a 23-13-5 record and a 2.22 goals against average. He was named to the 2011 ECHL All-Rookie Team.

Neuvirth is playing for the Czech Republic. The former Washington Capital won 18 games last season for the Flyers in his first season with the team. While in South Carolina during the 2008-09 season, Neuvirth went 6-7-0 in 13 starts, recording a 2.28 goals against average and two shutouts.

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey features eight teams competing for a best-on-best international hockey championship: The eight teams participating in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey are Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Finland, Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team USA, Team Europe and Team North America. The tournament takes place from September 17-October 1 in Toronto with pre-tournament games taking place at neutral sites in the weeks leading up the event.